Kanthaugen has traditionally served as a recreational area for Lillehammer, and has in particular been used for alpine skiing. In 1946, Norway's then-largest ski lift was installed between Stampesletta and Kanthaugen. It remained in use until the late 1970s. At the time of the closing, a local businessman proposed that it be renovated and that a tobogganing slide be built from Kanthaugen to Stampesletta. The plans were met by local opposition and were not carried through. Venue planning started after Lillehammer was awarded the Olympics in 1988. In the bid, Kanthaugen had been envisaged as the site of the sliding center. In 1989, the Lillehammer Olympic Organizing Committee proposed that the ski jumping hill and ski stadium instead be located there. Placing venues at Kanthaugen was controversial, as it would result in permanent encroachments in the one of the town's main recreational areas. Ultimately, only the freestyle arena and ski jump were placed at Kanthaugen, with the ski stadium placed further away from town. Kanthaugen Freestyle Arena was along with Lysgårdsbakken designed by Økaw Arkitekter. The area development plan was passed in August 1991. The responsibility for construction originally rested on Lillehammer Municipality, but LOOC took over responsibility in November 1991. The decision to include aerials in the Olympic program was made in October 1992. Tore Løkke was selected as the main contractor. Construction cost 20.3 million Norwegian krone, of which NOK 3.3 million was paid for by the municipality and NOK 17 million was paid for by LOOC. The venue was completed in the fall of 1992 and was the first freestyle skiing arena in the world to feature a common spectator area for all three event hills. The temporary structures used during the Olympics were completed in December 1993. A jibbing park was installed in 2008.
Facilities
The venue consists of three hills, each tailor-made for aerials, moguls and ski ballet, respectively. Above the Olympic hills is a long tobogganing hill which uses the competitive area as a finish. At the base of the hill is the spectator area, which featured temporary bleachers during the Olympics. The spectator capacity for aerials and ski ballet is 15,000, while it is 12,000 for moguls. Also at the foot of the hill is a jury tower overlooking the aerials hill. The venue is equipped with snowmaking equipment, a T-bar lift and floodlights. The arena is located next to the ski jumping hill Lysgårdsbakken, with which it shares some broadcasting and telecommunications facilities. During the Olympics, of temporary buildings, including tents, were erected at the venue. Kanthaugen is one kilometer east of Lillehammer's town center and owned and operated by Lillehammer Olympiapark, a subsidiary of Lillehammer Municipality.
